Extensible bedstead.



G. TERPBNNING. EXTENSIBLB BEDSTEAD.

APPLIOTIO FILED APB.. 17, 1907.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

76, T BYHISATTURNEYS f... L l f s UNITED STATESI PATENT OFFICE.

EXTENSIBLE BEDSTEAD.

Application filed April 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARRET TERPEN- NING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City Heights, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Bedsteads, of Which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to folding or extensible bedsteads, and more particularly to bedsteads holding a plurality of mattresssupporting frames adapted to be drawn out from the bedstead, and forms an improvement on the construction shown in my application for atent filed on the 20th of June, 1905, Serial3 NO. 266,141.

The object of my invention is to provide a bedstead, which, when closed, shall occupy no more space than the ordinary bedstead of its kind, but which, when the sections thereof are drawn out, shall provide three times the mattress area of the bedstead when collapsed; which, when opened, shall not form merely a bed three times the size of an ordinary bed, but three separate beds, at different levels, and each with undiminislied air s ace.

Extensi le bedsteads have been heretofore so constructed that when the sections were-closed provision Was made for the carriage of but one mattress and therefore only one of the beds,-that is, the u per one,- could be made up. The bed c othing and mattress of the other bed had to be put away until the bedstead was o ened up. When it was desired to extend a ed of this character either a mattress large enough to cover both beds had to be brought out or an auxiliary mattress to cover the auxiliary section. TWo sections had then to be made up. After the bed had been slept in and it was desired tol make it up there Was no place for the auxiliary mattress and bedclothes and they had to be stowed away.

It is to obviate just such inconveniences as this that I have devised my invention. My bed accommodates two or three mattresses and beds all ready and made up at any and all times Whether the bed be open or closed. Again, all other extensible beds are devised so that the mattresses shall be upon the same level. This is very Well for couches or sofas which are of a Width too small to accommodate one person comfortably but Where there are young children or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

1907. Serial No. 368,752.

a family of children it is hygienically best that the beds be upon different levels so that the grown person shall not roll over upon the child (an accident quite common with very young children) nor turn. so that their faces are 011 a level.

--My invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter distinctly set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a cross section on line awr of Fig. 2, showing the auxiliary mattresssupporting frames drawn out to their extended position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a bed constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the angle iron stretcher and folding leg. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the upper socket and its corresponding sider bar. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of one of the'channel bars and the end of one of the mattress-supporting frames. Fig. 6 is a detail ierspective of the lower socket and'channe bar. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the end pieces of the mattress-supporting frame, the stretcher being shown in section.

In all the figures, like numerals designate like parts, and therein 2 2 designate the head and foot frames of the bed of any ordinary construction, but preferably of metal tubes as I have shown them. Formed on the corner posts of the head and foot frames-as by casting-are the side-bar socket pieces 3, having the usual dovetail recesses for the reception of the tongues 4 of the side bar 4. Iron or brass bedsteads of this kind have tWo side bars, level With each other' and supporting one sprin@r mattress frame at a small height above the floor, this mattress frame being fixed, in the sense that normally it is su ported within the parallelogram of the bedltead.

M invention contem lates the use of a fixe or main mattress rame A as usual in bedsteads and of one or more auxiliary mattress-su porting frames B C either above or below tiie main frame sliding into the bedstead frame, su ported on or partly on the main frame, anniD capable of being withdrawn out from said bedstead much as a drawer is drawn out from a chest of drawers.

Preferably the fixed mattress frame is the uppermost one and the auxiliary frames are located beneath it, and this construction I vhave shown in the drawings. I use two pairs lof side bars 4, one above the other, oth pairs having tongues 4 seating in the socket pieces 3.

5, 5 designate transverse channel irons at a level with the ends of thelower pair ol side rails 4. Preferably they 'form "the U- shaped channel 5 in which the T-shaped angle end bars v6 of the mattress frame fit, and slide, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. I have shown these channel irons 5, 5 as cast in one piece with the head and foot frames of the bed, but I do not wish to be limited thereto as any other means of attaching them to the end frames may be used. This form, however, is particularly convenient in manufacturing as it tends to cheapness of construction while giving full strength tothe arts. Each of the auxiliary mattress-supporting frames B and C is composed v of the end bars `6, 6 and the longitudinal stretchers 7 7. The end bars 6 are formed ofL-shaped angle iron and the stretchers of L-.shaped angle iron bolted at their ends to the bars 6. Preferably I form the end bars of two oppositely placed lengths of angle iron bolted together along their adjacentl flanges 6', thus 'forming a T-shaped iron, the downwardly projecting flange 6 'of whichengages vin the channel iron 5. The lnpward'ly projecting flange 6 is adapted to'support the ordinary woven wire spring mattress D, the ends of the longitudinal strands of the woven web engaging in eyes 6 formed along the upper edgeV of the upwardly projecting flange 6. It" will be obvious, however, that the ordinary wooden frame of a spring bed may be supported in position on the stretchers and end pieces if desired.

The inner side of the mattress-supporting frame when pulled out is supported by the main bed frame through the channel irons 5 and in order to su port the outer side ofthe frame, I provide the ,legs 8, 8 which may be of any suitable form or construction but which I prefer to make of angle iron as shown in Fig. 3, the upper end ofthe leg being pivoted to the side web of the stretcher 7 and either fitting so tightly as to holdin place when upwardly turned or being provided with any suitable latches to that end.

While I may use a set of legs only located on one side of the auxiliary mattress-supporting frame, I prefer to use double sets of folding legs located on both sides of the frame. Both airs of legs are folded up when the auxiliary frame is in position on the bed but by having two pairs of legs the auxiliary frame is adapted to be pulled out from either side of the bed without thenecessity of turning the auxiliary bed around and re-inserting it in the bed in order to place the leg supporting side outward. By having two pairs of legs the supporting frame may be pushed in either direction and the pair of legs which then forms the outside legsebeingl turned downward, into position to support the frame- In order to prevent the auxiliary frame being drawn out too far, I use means for yholding it from iurther movement after it is drawn out to the full extent. I may use any form of stops desired but I have shown the lower mattress-supporting frame as sto* ped from extreme movement by a pivoted atch 8 shown in detail in Fig. 3 which is ivoted at one corner to downwardly projecting lugs on the upper web of the angle iron and stretcher 7. This is also shown clearly in the fragmental view Fig. 7. The latch is pivoted at one corner in order that it may foldup to permit it to -pass the sockets 3 of one side ofv the bed but to contact with `the sockets and to be thrown down to the posi- `tion shown in Figs. 3 and 7 when it contacts with the sockets of the side forming the auxiliary frame support.

I have shown on the uppermost auxiliary bed a chain and hook connection. This is to be used to adapt the extensible bed for use on shipboard and like situations where some means must be provided for preventing the bed from moving back andforth in thefslideways yas the vessel rolls. For this purpose ,I have provided the chains 8X which YI have shown as attached to the stretcher angle iron 7 and ada ted to be passed around the corner postof tlie end frame and then hooked into an eye on the downwardly projecting flange 6 of the end bar 6. By this means the auxiliary bed is held from movement either direction. I do not wish, however, to belimited ,to this arrangement as there are a large Vnumber of equivalent devices which might be used for this purpose. y

So far I have described a main or fixed mattress-supporting frame A and one ,auxiliary shiftable frame B located beneath the fixed frame. It is to be noted that in this connection the one auxiliary frame Bas it is alike at both ends may be inserted at either side of the bed, as most convenient, so that it is adaptable to any arrangement of furniture or plan of room. To provide for the use of an additional mattress and thereby for three beds in one, I may use a second auxiliary mattress supporting frame C adapted to slide in between's the frames A and B and to be drawn out on the opposite side. The frame itself is formed of end bars 6 and stretchers 7, exactly as is frame B, and mounted on channel irons 5, as is the frame B. As there is no stretcher needed beneath this central supporting frame (the upper and lower stretchers being amply sufficient to hold the end frames rigid) I support the channel iron 5 on a bracket 3X, the bracket and channel irons being cast in one p iece with the rest of the end frame, as has been before described. The channel irons, `howany. other suitable manner.

ever', may be attached to the end framesin In Figs. 1 and 2, dotted lines show the positions of the mattresses and pillows of the bed. Thus I pro Vide a bedstead with one fixed bed and two auxiliary beds capable of being drawn out to a greater or less extent and tripling the area of bearing surface while taking up no more room than an ordinary bed.

My invention has a number of advantages over the ordinary folding bed in that the bedding is not closed up, thus excluding it from air, nor does the closing up of the auxiliary beds tend to disturb the mattress and bed-clothes. It is besides more capacious than any folding bed,-as it equals three full sized beds when drawn out, which would make the folding bed too cumbersome for practical use,-nor does the use of any one mattress require the extension or unfolding of the others. In addition, it is to be noted, that each mattress is on a different plane. This is particularly of advantage in that the occupants of one mattress cannot disturb or roll against those of another,-and also that this arrangement gives better air to the users than if they were on a level.

The several beds can be aired pro erly, and easily made up, and then slid bac into place,-wl1ich is not the case with beds simply arranged in tiers. The construction of the bedstead is so simple that it cannot get out of order and as it is formed of the same elements as the ordinary iron or brass bedstead it can be very cheaply manufactured. It is obvious also that in case the auxiliary beds are not required the u per side bars may be easily removed and tlie lower side bars alone used when the bed is of the ordinary style.

This bedstead may be used with advantage in hotels-where it is often requisite to rovide additional bed space at short notice.

n this case the bedstead could normally be arranged to support the ordinary fixed mattress on the lowest level-as described-, and be easily adjusted for the insertion of the auxiliary bed frames. Again, for use of families living in contracted quarters," where economy of space is needed, this bedstead would be of great utility.

While I have shown what I deem to be the simplest and best construction, I wish it understood that many changes might be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a bedstead, end frames; a mattresssupporting section rigidly connected to said end frames; transverse channel track irons formed in one piece with said end lframes; and an auxiliary mattress-supporting section comprisinglongitudinal strips and end pieces, said end pieces being formed of two L-shaped -angle irons bolted together", the' doufnwardly extending iianges of which slidingly engage with said channel irons g woven wire fabric attached at its ends to the upwardly projecting flanges, the ends of the side bars of said auxiliary mattress-supporting section being received between the adjacent flanges of the two angle irons composing the end pieces, one of said side bars having legs pivoted at each end thereof.

2. In a bedstead, end frames, a mattresssupporting section rigidly connected to said end frames, channel irons attached to said end frames, and an auxiliary mattresssupporting section comprising longitudinal stretchers and end pieces, said end pieces comprising oppositely disposed angle irons, the adjacent flanges of which are bolted together, the downwardly projecting flange of the lower angle iron being adapted to engage with the said channel irons, and the upwardly extending flange having means for engaging the end of a woven wire mattresssupport, and legs on the outer side of said auxiliary frame.

3. In a bedstead, end frames, a mattresssupporting section rigidly connected to said end frames, sockets on the end frames, longitudinal bars engaging at their ends in said sockets and adapted to hold the end frames in position, channel irons attached to said end frames, and an auxiliary mattresssupporting section comprising longitudinal stretchers and end pieces, said end pieces comprising oppositely disposed angle irons, the adjacent flanges of which are bolted together, the downwardly projecting flange of the lower angle iron being adapted to engage with the said channel irons, and the upwardly extending flange having means for engaging the end of a woven wire mattresssupport, and legs on the outer side of said auxiliary frame.

4. In a bedstead, end frames, sockets located on the upper portion of each end frame, longitudinal side bars adapted to engage with said sockets, sockets located below the first-named sockets and having longitudinal bars connecting the end frames at this point, means for supporting a mattress on the upper side bars, a transverse channel iron attached to the end frames beneath the upper mattress supports, and a sliding auxiliary bed section supported on said channel irons, said auxiliary bed section comprising stretchers and end bars, said end bars being -shaped in cross section, the stretcher bars being attached to the main web on said the downwardly extending flange adapted to engage with and slide in the said channel bars and the upwardly extending flange having means whereby it may support a wire fabric.

5. A bedstead having end frames, longitudinal bars connecting the end frames and transverse channel bars attached to the end frames v,in combination with yan auxiliary mattress-,supporting frame consistingnfgside barsv formed of angle iron, andend bars `each for-med of two oppositely disposed angle irons, thellange of one extending upwardly andthe other downwardly, the downwardly extending flange -adapted to slide in the channel iron of the end frame, wire fabric supported at its ends from the upwardly projeeting flange, and legs on the outer side of said auxiliary frame pivoted thereto and adapted to fold up within the angle iron forming the stretchers.

6. In a bedstead, end frames, sockets located on the vupper portion of each end frame, longitudinal side hars adapted to engage with said sockets, sockets located below the first named sockets and having longitudinal bars adapted to engage said sockets and connecting the end frames at this point, a channel iron extending across and attached to auxiliary mattress supporting frame lsupported on said channel irons, said auxiliary frame comprising stretehers and end bars,

said end bars being |-shaped in cross seetion, the stretcher bars being attached to the main web of said I- ,the downwardly extending flange ladapted to engage with and slide in the said channel bars and the upwardly extending iiange having means whereby it may support a wire fabric.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 29 day of March 1907.

GARRET TERPENNING. itnesses: i

FREDERIC B. WRIGHT, J A. VERNON 

